I loved this book. I read Don't let the Forest In and that was good. This was even better. I loved the exploration of well-deserved rage from Evander. I was so angry for him and the way he was treated. I imagine that so many disabled and neurodivergent people feel this way when people take advantage of them and take away their agency.

The story pulled me in immediately and I had to know what was going on. I did not see the twist coming! I feel like the concept of this book was really unique.

This book is deliciously eerie—equal parts gothic mystery, botanical horror, and twisted love story. The atmosphere is so thick and immersive, I swear I could smell the gardens creeping through the pages. Evander is a haunting narrator, and the push-pull between him and Laurie had me absolutely riveted. The mix of family secrets, inheritance drama, and unsettling body horror is unlike anything else I’ve read—it’s chilling, beautiful, and impossible to put down.

I read Don’t Let The Forest In and consider that basically a perfect book. I didn’t think Drews could top that book but they absolutely did and then some. This is The Secret Garden if it was explicitly queer and also a flat out horror story. There are so many earned twists and turns. I was shocked by the entire last 25% because I didn’t see any of it coming. Beautifully written descriptions, compelling characters and outright villains not getting a drop of redemption. It was incredible. I will be annoying recommending this over and over this spooky season.

Nature is at its peak when it’s left to thrive unattended and wild, with endless trees bursting up against the endless blue sky, brambles that keep unwanted intruders from disturbing the peace, and the mingling scents of honeysuckle and lavender floating through the air. The life beating in every blade of grass and molecule of dirt hides the darker sides of unkempt wilderness, with nightshade berries and toxic flowers whose very smell forces the air out of your lungs, once again, determined to keep unnecessary intruders from disturbing the peace of its chaos.
This wild mayhem stands strong as the background of Hazelthorn, C.G. Drews’ latest novel set to release on October 28th of this year, in which seventeen-year-old Evander is left to deal with the sudden inheritance of Hazelthorn estate, and the billions of dollars that come with it, after the mysterious passing of his guardian, Byron Lennox-Hall. The one caveat to the inheritance being that Evander must choose a new guardian in the Lennox-Hall family to help him manage the estate until he turns eighteen. Evander lived the past seven years of his life stuck in his room with three other caveats holding him back — don’t leave the estate, don’t go in the garden, and never be alone with Byron’s charming grandson, Laurie — but is now stuck with another caveat of uncovering his guardian’s murderer. Even though Laurie tried to kill him seven years ago with a shovel, Laurie is the only one Evander can trust to help him uncover the secrets of the other bloodthirsty Lenox-Halls who have all arrived to grieve Byron’s passing. Perhaps even more concerning is how Hazelthorn’s garden seems alive and just as bloodthirsty as the Lenox-Halls, making Evander wonder what he is truly inheriting.
The mossy gothic horror atmosphere is ripe fodder for C.G Drews’ writing; a wonderful blend of humorous banter, horrifyingly realistic descriptions of entrails and an incessant hunger for blood, and a deep emotional struggle that surrounds the not-so-simple-question, “what is wrong with me?” And the similarly no-so-easy-to-say answer, “nothing”. In my opinion, after devouring their other book “Don’t Let the Forest In” in a day, I believe that the writing, story, and the simple characterization of the wilderness itself makes “Hazelthorn” even better. I devoured this book in a few days (my last reading spurt going over the course of two completely uninterrupted hours of finishing this book) and I was left choking on flowers and dirt in the best ways possible.
The interactions between the main characters, Evander and Laurie, are easily the highlight of this novel for me as sarcastic, hateful arguments move from slightly less sarcastic banter filled with understanding and a hint of yearning. Drews has always succeed when it comes to writing witty banter and deep emotional connections like this one, but the dynamic between these two characters sucked me in like no book ever has before. Combining their past history together with their shared pain around the suffocating nature of the other Lenox-Halls creates the kind of dynamic I wish I had when I was younger. Someone who simply sees the other and says, in their own way, “I understand you. Nothing is wrong with you. You are allowed to feel pain.” Beyond that, there is something so gut-wrenching about the dialogue between these two characters that utterly makes this novel into the beautiful piece of art that it is. At one point, the novel simply reads “‘I knew I’d cut myself to pieces on you if we ever had the chance to touch, but I wanted to,’ [Laurie]’s voice unravels, massacred on yearning. ‘Let me ruin myself on you.’” I read this on their Instagram when they posted it as a snippet, but after reading 259 pages with these two, it hits so much harder in context. Individually, these characters are a breath of fresh air in regards to some of the books I’ve read recently. Beyond these two, each character’s behaviors and mannerisms are so vividly depicted that I could almost imagine them right in front of my face as I read. I visibly recoiled when Oleander appeared on a page because I could practically hear her shrieking voice in my ear as I read. And, of course, the garden itself is one of the most visual and visceral characters that pop off of the page from the moment it appears. The different stretched of the garden, from the areas with peaceful plum trees to the blocked off section with the sticky red door, are all unique in their characteristics and the ways that they respond to each character. The garden is just as alive as any of the other characters and it wants vengeance.
Beyond all of the beauty and horror that is laced throughout every edge of this book is the importance of people being kinder to themselves. Many people know how it feels to not have a choice in life, to feel unquellable rage when they simply don’t fit in and are seen as “wrong”. For the longest time, I hated myself because I never fit in when engaging in social situations. People talked over me or talked down to me because I simply said the wrong thing or I didn’t have the courage to say anything at all. Drews reminds readers in this book that, even in a world of monsters, some of the most devastating monsters are our own self-hatred. Hazelthorn is a reminder that it’s okay to climb out of the box you stuffed yourself into and be yourself freely. It’s a reminder, more than anything, that we need to be kinder to ourselves. After all, if nature doesn’t do well stuck inside of a box or a pot or even a garden, then why would we ever stuffing ourselves and our natural chaos in a box that never fit?
Hazelthorn releases to the public on October 28th of this year. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did. Until then, long may we rot.

I enjoyed the overall story of this, but there were a few points I found myself a little uninterested. The atmosphere of the crumbling mansion with the overgrown garden creeping in was beautifully done!

Hazelthorn by CG Drews is such an excellent example of botanical horror! I enjoyed the built up to the reveal of Evander’s true identity and loved Evander and Laurie’s relationship. This book is full of surprises and is great addition to contemporary horror.

Hazelthorn is an epic masterpiece. After reading Don’t Let The Forest In, I knew I was in for a good ride with storytelling from C.G. Drews. The story was so creative, unexpected, deliciously whimsical, compelling and horrific. Evander is such a lovable character and the twist in identity was unexpected and thoughtful.

I had already preordered prior to receiving this ARC and I cannot wait to get the physical copy in my hands. Highly recommend everyone to check this out. And thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I'm always going to love everything CG Drews writes, because we appear to have the same twisted taste in queer stories feturing wild body horror. Don't Let the Forest In was one of my favorite reads of 2024, and Hazelthorn is definitely making my top 5 list for 2025.

Phew, what a doozy. Evander was such a compelling protagonist, and every twist was fun and spooky and genuinely twisty, which is always a delight. I read very little YA these days, but CG Drews works are consistently the exception - and now that I've devoured Hazelthorn, I'm even more excited to pic up their adult debut and sink all of my free time into it.

I just finished Don't Let the Forest In in July and LOVED it, and I think this surpassed that? I have always had a fondness for fairytales, and I adore the exploration of codependent relationships that was done in this. C.G. Drews makes YA accessible to both teenagers and adults and Hazelthorn is remarkably readable despite being YA. YA is not my genre of choice, but the way this was done was perfect. I loved the characters and their relationships. I also think Drews is masterful in the plot twists - I genuinely think they are hard to guess and extremely shocking.

Starting to think I love plant horror?

5/5 stars. loved.

When I tell you I ate this book up. The writing was near poetic and the thriller aspect of it kept me on the edge of my seat. I would definitely read more books by this author.

Hazelthorn is a dizzyingly atmospheric tale that plays with themes of memory and trust, and blends mystery and horror in a way that will keep readers turning the pages and saying "Just one more chapter!" late into the night.

Evander is a 17-year-old boy who has been living in the dilapidated Hazelthorn manor since the tragic death of his parents and his own near-death experience at the hands of Laurie, the other boy who lives in the house (when he isn't getting kicked out of whichever boarding school his grandfather has sent him off to). Our story kicks off when Evander's guardian, owner of the house and recluse billionaire Byron Lennox-Hall, suddenly dies, leaving both Evander and Laurie in the hands of an estate lawyer and the estranged and greedy Lennox-Hall family. But Evander is certain that his guardian's death is foul play and is determined to overcome his fears and weaknesses to solve the mystery.

CG Drews sets up not only an intriguing mystery surrounding Evander's guardian's death, but an even more intriguing set of questions about Laurie and Evander themselves. Why did Laurie try to kill Evander in the garden all those years ago? Who was Evander before that horrible day, before he lost his memories? And can he trust Laurie now, as they reluctantly band together against the encroaching Lennox-Hall family who want Hazelthorn for themselves?

I found the mysteries of Hazelthorn and its occupants riveting, and CG Drews' prose to be lyrical and haunting, at turns beautiful and revolting. Evander's story is told in observations and revelations rooted in metaphors that contain both the beauty and rot that can be found in not just a wild, dangerous garden, but also the human soul.

Personally, I give Hazelthorn 4 stars, which is on par with how I rated Don't Let the Forest In. Though I read it in two sittings and I was engaged from cover to cover, it didn't have that undefinable oomph that I look for in a 5 star read. However I'd still highly recommend it! If you are a fan of books like The Secret Garden, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, Gallant, and/or What Moves the Dead, then I suggest you add Hazelthorn to your collection of "old houses and its occupants harboring secrets" books that haunt your shelves.

Thank you to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for a copy of the ebook to read and review.

Read it! I don’t think I can be more enthusiastic about it. Hazelthorn is unique and visceral and captivating and absolutely horrifying. It’s fantastic. CG Drews is an amazing writer. Their storytelling is poetic. I’ve never met a character like Evander before. This story has *pining* and ends with a perfect plot twist.

ARC REVIEW -

This wasn’t a story, this was an experience. What an emotional and vulnerable ride. I could not put this down. Every single chapter was beautifully written. Laurie and Evander ripped me open and stitched me back up. It was dark, gothic, and hauntingly beautiful. Drews poetically shows us survival, hope, and the power of words have to either hurt or heal. Absolutely stunning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for Hazelthorn!

I will say that, if you need to, absolutely 100% check the trigger warnings before reading because this book is insanely traumatic and gory. That said, I LOVE LOVE LOVED this book!!! I knew from the start that I would love it based on the haunted garden, body horror, unreliable narrator, and the spooky, gothic vibe and I was absolutely right. This is right up my alley. It was incredible and singlehandly destroyed my reading slump. Every time I thought I figured something out, a new element was added to the mix. Even the things I got sort of right, I got wrong.

Also! the scene with Laurie right after Evander sees Carrington in his room..... all i'm going to say. Literally kicking my feet.

Overall, 5 stars and added to favorites. I could have read 30 more chapters without a struggle and while I don't reread often, I definitely sense an October reread around the corner. I won't stop thinking about this for a long time.

C.G. Drews returns with a chilling and atmospheric novel that you won't be able to put down. This book has it all: a murder mystery, a tense family dynamic, and a truly terrifying botanical body horror. When Evander inherits a crumbling estate, he also inherits a family with dark secrets and a sprawling, sentient garden with a taste for blood. The escalating tension is brilliant, and the writing is both gorgeous and gruesome. This is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense and those brave enough to step into a beautifully-written nightmare.

Listen, if it’s botanical horror from GC Drews, I’m going to read it and you should to! 1000000% 5 stars, incredible prose and moody atmosphere. Unhinged and messy and AMAZING! I wish I could go back and reread this again. Lovelovelove

I honestly can’t remember the last time I fell this hard for a YA novel or flew through one in less than a day. Hazelthorn was ah-mazing (yes, it needs the extra emphasis). It has all the vibes of the perfect gothic horror: creepy atmosphere, a touch of dread, and writing that’s so beautiful it gave me chills.

I also adored the autistic rep. It felt so refreshing and genuine. The first half is a little on the slower side, but trust me, stick with it. Because once it takes off, you will not want to put it down until the very last page.

If you’re into dark, eerie, gorgeously written YA with a gothic twist, you definitely need this one on your TBR. 4.5 stars rounded up

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh why would you write this? And please do it again 😭 This was an absolute whirlwind of a book that got better and better with every page. I just need to say that I loved Laurie the second I met him and I loved him more and more as the book went on 😭 I love these beautiful disaster monster boys omfg

I received this as an ARC in exchange for honest feedback.

This was my first CG Drew’s novel, and I went in blind. Unfortunately, this writing style just isn’t for me. While some aspects of the prose I would characterize as lyrical and dreamlike, I ultimately found this book to be a victim of purple prose. The main characters were very well developed, but I struggled to connect to them and the story, as I was lost in a word salad. I’m rating this 3 stars since I feel the biggest downfall was that this author’s writing style simply isn’t for me.

"what is love if not devouring"

🪴autism rep
☠️dislike to lovers
🪴 fantasy + ya botanical horror
☠️gothic eerie mansion
🪴overgrown abandoned garden
☠️ murder-mystery similar to knives out (my favorite movie)

I loved this so much. cg drews has cemented herself as my favorite ya horror novel author. her books just stick with me and i find myself thinking about them days, weeks and months after reading. hazelthorn is so unique and it would make an incredible movie//tv show.

"I’d split my bones, I’d open my throat, I’d do anything to be near you and have even one second with my mouth against yours."

hazelthorn was INCREDIBLE. the murder mystery, the twists and turns, the botanical horror, the creepy vibes, the romance... sooooo good.

"two boys forever trying to sink their teeth into the other’s throat."

as always cg drews prose is beautiful and scary as fuck. i had to stop reading at night during one scene, i was sooo freaked out. hazelthorn played like a movie in my head. the vibes were immaculate!!!

evander was such a loveable mc. i was rooting for his happiness and growth. i see so much of myself in him. as an autistic girly, the rep is phenomenal!!!! the lack of autonomy, shame, rage and grief had me gripped by the throat. i highlighted so many things that evander said and felt about himself.

the romance, the YEARNING, the tension.. omg. it is so well written. they like each other and want to be close but they know they shouldn't feel this way!!!! ahhh, laurie×evander had me screeching like a pterodactyl.

i have guessed the plot twist for both hazelthorn and don't let the forest in. while i don't typically love that.... I think it attests to cg drews writing. if you're paying close attention, she gives amazing foreshadowing. there are always so many little details that will go over your head if you're not looking for them.

i highly recommend!!! hazelthorn is one of my favorite horror fantasy novels ever.

quotes i like:
╰┈❥Seven years ago, Laurence Lennox-Hall tried to kill him in the garden, down amongst the roses. But somehow, Evander is still obsessed with him.

╰┈❥When he fractures, it is in a place so deep inside himself that he cannot begin to collect the shattered pieces.

╰┈❥Take me apart if you want, find where I keep all my secrets.

╰┈❥If he could dig fingernails into the sides of Laurie’s face and peel back the mask, he would. He would core him like a pear and throw away the soft, rotted skin until he saw him as he really is: horrible and beautiful and real.

╰┈❥Words don’t make sense in the space between them, when Laurie’s heat is a molten promise against Evander’s bones.

╰┈❥He is held together in this boy’s arms.

╰┈❥If you put my name in your mouth, I will always listen.

╰┈❥He wants their twined fingers to grow together like soft green vines across a rose trellis.

╰┈❥He really needs to pull apart the wicker cage of his ribs and see if he can find the reason he’s so obsessed with that boy hidden amidst the rot. He craves him. He thinks about him all the time

╰┈❥Pain is meant to take up space or else we wouldn’t know how to scream. Fuck making your agony silent to avoid disturbing others. Maybe they should be disturbed.

╰┈❥He wishes his brain moved in one direction, not a dozen all at the same time, and that he didn’t pull apart in a panic if even one thing goes wrong.

╰┈❥He doesn’t want to be touched. He never wants to be touched

╰┈❥The more anxious he gets, the more things become unbearable— like clothes and lights and shrill voices. Sometimes he just wants to crawl out of his own skin and peg it on a washing line to air out for a bit while he takes a long nap somewhere cool and dark. But those are not the sorts of things he can explain out loud.


♡thank you so much netgalley, cg drews and macmillan children's publishing group for an arc♡